Disclaimer: As of yet, I have not acquired the ownership rights of Hamtaro. When I finally do, I'll stop writing disclaimers, ok? I do happen to own David, the bad guy, and Jimmy, his human, though. Don't steal them without asking me, ok?

Hamtaro's Greatest Adventure! Chapter 9: Into the Belly of the Beast

Hamtaro realized what must have happened, but he didn't want to believe it. Could David really have stolen everything, including Bijou? "I'd better investigate," Hamtaro said to himself

"Boss, I want to thank you for not staying mad at me and Hamtaro," Bijou said. Boss and Bijou were still tied to chairs in a locked room somewhere under David's human's front yard. They don't know exactly where they are, though. "It's OK, Bijou. I couldn't stay mad at you two anyway. I'm glad you're happy together," Boss sighed. He knew the old feelings were there, but he knew it was too late for him. "Don't worry Boss. Someday the right girl ham will come along and you two will live happily ever after. It will be so romantic, just like a fairy tale!" she said happily. Boss sighed. He was skeptical, but then, wasn't he always?

Hamtaro sniffed around the sled tracks. He had followed them all the way to a hole in David's front yard. "Should I go on in alone?" he asked himself. "No, it would be better if I went and got help. Safety in numbers, right?"

Soon, Hamtaro was sneaking into Maxwell's bookstore. He saw Maxwell sitting on a table reading a book and nibbling on a sunflower seed. Hamtaro scurried up the leg of the table and onto the desk. Maxwell turned and asked, "Hamtaro? What are you doing here?" "Bijou's been ham-napped and the clubhouse has been cleaned out!" Hamtaro exclaimed. Maxwell jumped to his feet. "We've got to warn the others!"

The word was passed around all afternoon from ham to ham. At the end of the day, Hamtaro, Cappy, Maxwell, Sandy, Panda, Pashmina, Penelope, Oxnard, Stan, Dexter and Howdy were at the clubhouse. "Everyone, we've got to rescue Bijou and get back our stolen stuff!" Hamtaro proposed. "Yes, but just how do you expect us to do that?" Dexter asked. Everyone let out a disappointed sigh. "He's right, ya know," Howdy said. "We do need a plan"

"Bijou, are you as bored as I am?" Boss sighed. He'd been tied to the chair since this time yesterday, and there's not much that a tied up hamster that's locked in a room underground can do for fun. "Oui. I just wish my knight in shining armor would rescue me," she sighed with stars in her eyes. Boss wished he could be her knight in shining armor, but he knew that she wanted Hamtaro. Besides, he couldn't save her, being a captive himself.

Everyone back at the clubhouse was silent. They were all thinking of ways they could rescue their friends, but none came to mind without putting everyone in great danger. "It's too solemn in here," Howdy said loudly. "What y'all need is a good joke! Here's one: What do you get when you cross an owl and a bungee cord?" "Howdy, shut up," Sandy snapped. Howdy looked hurt. "Sorry Howdy, but it's like, we need to rescue Boss and Bijou, ok?" Howdy sighed and nodded his head.

"Bijou, did you know I had a crush on you?" Boss asked. Bijou sighed and turned her head. "Oui, I knew it all along." Boss stared at her. "Why didn't you say something?" "Boss, I don't have a crush on you. I never did, so I did not see the point. Things would have gotten strange between us," Bijou replied. "Don't bring up the past, Boss. It will only hurt more that way." She turned to him and realized that she was right. For the first time since she could remember, Boss was crying openly.

"Boss, why are you crying?" Bijou asked. "Because I love you!" Boss sobbed. "There there, Boss, it'll be OK," she soothed. Boss turned his head and said, "Sure, for you. You got the ham of your dreams, but I'm the one left holding the bag. Rejection is the worst part of love," Boss wailed. "Boss, I love you, but not in the same way that you love me. I love you as a friend, I respect you and care about you, but I don't love you like I love Hamtaro." At the mention of Hamtaro's name, Boss began crying harder. Bijou felt bad for him, but she knew that there was nothing she could do.

The ham-hams decided that the best thing to do was to go straight into David's hideout and do what they could to rescue their friends, and take back their possessions of course. Hamtaro lead the way back to the hole he followed the sled tracks to. They went in single file, Hamtaro still leading the way. Pashmina had decided to stay back at the club with Penelope. That left Cappy, Maxwell, Sandy, Panda, Oxnard, Stan, Dexter and Howdy to go with Hamtaro.

They each walked slowly, trying to stay as quiet as possible. They checked each door they came to, but they couldn't find anything.

Boss was still crying his eyes out. Bijou was trying to console him, but nothing she said helped. Suddenly, Bijou heard a noise. "Boss, please be quiet. I think I heard something," she said. Boss tried to stop crying, but some sobs still broke through. Bijou listened intently to what she thought were footsteps and voices. "Boss, is it my imagination, or does it sound like someone is out there?" she asked. Boss listened carefully. His face lit up and he said, "Yes, it is! There are a lot of them! Maybe someone's come to rescue us!" he said. Boss and Bijou started yelling for help as loud as they could.

"Do you hear that?" Hamtaro asked everyone. Everyone stopped and listened. "I think that someone out there is calling for help," Maxwell whispered. "Maybe it's Bijou and Boss," Oxnard said, trying to pretend to be brave in the face of danger. "You guys stay here, I'm going to check it out," Hamtaro said as he ran forward. He stopped in his tracks quite soon, though, for in front of him stood David. "So, you've finally come. Well, I've been waiting for you, and I am presently having Boss and Bijou moved to a safer location. Now let's deal with you, shall we?" David laughed.

TO BE CONTINUED...